Washing-machine.



PATENTED 00T. 10, 1905.

T. FITZGIBBON. WASHING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 2s. 190s.

2 SHEBTS-SHEET l.

PATENTED OCT. l0, 1905.

l APPLICATION FILED MAY 28. 1902.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

pNrrnp s'rafrns Parana* oraison.

WASHING-MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 10, 1905.

Application filed May 28,1902. Serial No. 109,326.

To all whom it may concern,.-

Be it known that I, THOMAS FITZGIBBON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Grove Center, in the county of Union and State of Kentucky, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in l/Vashing-Machines, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

My invention relates to new and useful improvementsin washing-machines; and its object is to provide a machine of simple and inexpensive construction having a novel arrangement of rubbing-boards at the sides and bottom of the tub of the machine.

A further object is to provide rubbers of peculiar' construction which are adapted to force the clothes upon said boards and draw them thereover.

Another object is to employ resilient means wherebyundue pressure of the rubbers upon the articles to be washed is prevented.

Vith the above and other objects in View the invention consists in the novel construction and combination of parts hereinafter more fully described and claimed, and illustrated in the accompanying' drawings, showing the preferred form of my invention, and in which* Figure 1 is a longitudinal section through my improved washing-machine. Fig. 2 is a transverse section therethrough. Fig. 3 is a horizontal section through one side of the machine. Fig. 4 is a detail view of a springcushion which may be employed to permit lateral movement of the rubbers. Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a modified form of rubber; and Fig. 6 is a section therethrough on line 6 6, Fig. 5.

Referring to the figures by numer-als of reference, 1 l are preferably wooden sides of a tub, which are connected at their lower edges by a sheet of non-corrosive metal 2, the ends of which are fastened to cross-strips 3 and the center of which is depressed, as shown at 4, to form awater-receiving trough. Parallel cross-strips 5 are arranged over this trough, the ends thereof being fitted in the sides 1, and these strips form a concave wash or rubbing board. A standard 6 is secured to the inner surface of each side 1 and extends upward from the center of the rubbing-board 5. Angular blocks 7 are arranged at each side of the standards, and upon these blocks and the standards 6 are arranged vertical strips 8, which extend down between the strips 5 and form vertical convex rubbing-boards. A shaft 9, having oppositely-extending cranks 10, is arranged horizontally above the bottom 2 and is journaled in the standards 6. One end of the shaft is mounted in an aperture formed in one of the standards, while the other end is detachably fitted within an inclined slot 11, having a button 12 pivoted at one side thereof and serving to hold the shaft in the slot. A crank 18 is detachably secured to the end of shaft 9 and permits the same to be readily operated.

A cross-strip 14 is hinged to the top of one standard 6, and its opposite end is provided with a slot for the reception of a button 15, pivoted on the remaining standard 6 and adapted to lock said strip in horizontal position. Apertures 16 are formed in strip 14 and each receives a rod 16, extending upward from a rubber of novel construction. This rubber may be formed of four similar' blades arranged at right angles to each other, as shown at 18, or may, as shown in Figs. 5 and 6, comprise a blade 19, having similar inverted angular cups 20, secured on opposite sides thereof. In this latter construction the edge 21 of the blade 19 which is nearest the side rubbing-board is rounded and extends beyond the cups.

A block 22 is pivotally mounted on each crank l0, and straps 23 extend from each block and over the adjacent rod 17, said straps serving' as guides fof the rods. Ooiled springs 24 connect the upper ends of the blocks 22 to lugs 25, extending from rods, and serve to retard upward movement of said rods in relation to the blocks.

If desired, a coiled spring 26 may be arranged on each crank 1() and bear upon the inner faces of the blocks 22. These springs will serve to hold the rubbers adjacent to the side rubbing-boards 8 and at the same time permit lateral movement thereof when subjected to undue pressure.

Cross-strips 27 may be arranged at each end of the tulo to prevent splashing, and a drain 28 is preferably arranged at one end of the troughn or depression 4. Suitable legs 29 are employed for supporting the tub.

lV hen water is placed in the tub, its tendency is to iiow toward the center or depressed portion 4. After the clothes or other articles to be washed have been placed in the tub the crank 13 is revolved. This will cause the rods 17 to rock and slide within the cross-strip 14, and the cranks 10 will bring the rubbers alternately down upon the clothes at one end of IOO IIO

board 5 and draw them thcreover. rlhe springs l 24 permit the rubbers to move upward when Working upon more than the usual thickness of clothing, and the springs 26 permit lateral movement for the same purpose. After all the clothes have been carried by the rubbers from one end to the other of the tub the motion of the shaft 9 is reversed and they are then carried back again.

Having` thus fully described my invention, what I therefore claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

l. ln a Washing-machine, the combination with a tub, of a concave rubbing-board at the bottom and convex 1ubbin9;boards at the sides of tub, a shaft having' cranks thereon, a blade connected to, and operated by, each crank of the shaft, and inverted ou ps at opposite sides of the blade.

2. In a Washing-machine, the combination 2O with a tub, of a concave rubbing-board at the bottom and a convex rubbing-board at each side of said tub, a shaft having a plurality of cranks, blocks mounted on the cranks of the shaft, straps on the blocks, rods slidably 25 mounted in the straps, guides for the rods arranged above the crank-shaft, lugs on the rods, springs Connecting' the lugs and blocks,

a blade upon each of the rods, and inverted oups at opposite sides of each blade and re- 30 moved from the end thereof.

In testimony Whereofl aHiX my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

THMAS FITZGIBBON.

fitnessesz GUY HoorER, JOHN KEY. 

